adidas »Kelvin Temperature Scale« Pack

Since its conception in the late 1980s adidas’ ZX Series has been at the forefront of athletic footwear design, pioneering groundbreaking technical innovations such as Soft Cell™ heel cushioning and the brand’s iconic Torsion system.

This year, adidas Originals celebrates the ZX Series’ blend of cutting edge tech and enduring aesthetics.

So, adidas took inspiration from the Kelvin temperature scale to highlight the contrast between modern mechanical production and traditional craftsmanship in footwear manufacturing. Special editions of the ZX 4000 4D and ZX 500 RM models, produced by mechanical an and manual means respectively, pay tribute to the evolution of footwear production, while contrasting cold and warm color schemes emphasize the difference between mechanical and human production techniques.

With the midsole being produced in adidas’ almost entirely automated factory in Ansbach, Germany, the 4D model is the product of the most automated shoe factory in the world, manufactured in an environment with virtually no heat, light, or human manpower. The sneaker’s black and grey color scale reflects this, utilizing colors from the cold temperature spectrum of the Kelvin scale.

Contrasting with this, the new ZX 500 RM is manufactured almost entirely by hand in one of adidas’ Asian factories, reflecting this with the Kelvin scale’s warm temperature hues of brown and taupe.